HYPOLAIS 111 



throat and middle of abdomen nearly pure white, flanks washed with pale 

 brown ; bill horn-brown, lower mandible yellowish at base ; legs pale 

 horn-brown ; iris dark brown. Culmen 0'62, under mandible 0'22, broad 

 at base, wing 2*63, tail 2*2, tarsus 0*83 inch ; first primary extending 0'27 

 beyond the coverts, and 1'15 shorter than the 2nd, second 0'2 shorter 

 than the 3rd, third and fourth equal. The female and young do not 

 appreciably differ from the male. 



Hcib. South-eastern Europe, Western Asia and North- 

 eastern Africa in summer, occurring rarely as far west as 

 Italy, extending east through Asia Minor and Transcaspia to 

 Persia, Turkestan, and Bokhara, and south as far as Abyssinia, 

 wintering further south in Africa. 



Restless uneasy and shy this species is often seen but is difficult 

 to obtain as it creeps about amongst the foliage with the greatest 

 ease. It frequents groves, orchards, and bush-covered places 

 both in the valleys, in damp localities and also to an altitude of 

 6,000 feet. It is an industrious songster, and its song has been 

 compared to that of H. icterina and also to that of the White- 

 throat, but is louder and not so hurriedly uttered. Its nest is 

 usually placed in the fork of a branch of a low tree, well concealed, 

 and is neatly constructed of dry plant- and grass-stems, moss, and 

 fine rootlets, intermixed with brown thistle-down and lined 

 with fine rootlets, down, and occasionally a horsehair or two. 

 The eggs 4 or 5 in number are deposited in June, and are pinky 

 grey with dark spots and dots and an occasional dark streak. 

 Occasionally but rarely the spots are collected round the larger 

 end ; in size they average about 0'67 by 0*51. 



161. UPCHER'S WARBLER. 

 HYPOLAIS LANGUIDA. 



Hypolais languida, (Hempr, and Ehr.) Symb, Phys. fol. II. (1828) ; 

 Dresser, ii. p. 535, pi. 83 ; Seebohm, Cat. B. Br. Mus. v. p. 80 ; 

 H. upcheri, Tristram, P.Z.S. 1864, p. 438. 



ad. (Baluchistan). Resembles H. pallida but is somewhat larger, has 

 the bill narrower and more slender, the first primary much shorter and 

 narrower, and is greyer in tinge of colour. Culmen 0'75, wing 3'1, tail 

 2'7, tarsus- 0'9 inch ; the first primary scarcely as long as the coverts, 1-8 

 shorter than the second, second 0'2 shorter than the 3rd, third and fourth 

 about equal. 



Hob. Palestine, Syria, South-eastern Persia, Afghanistan, 

 Turkestan, Bokhara, Baluchistan, Egypt, and Abyssinia. 



It is said to be restless and active in its habits, and to 

 resemble Acrocephalus dumetorum living amongst thick bushes, 



